I *love* the concept of this book, and believe we need many more books like it in the world.

Doctors tend to give black & white "do this don't do tI *love* the concept of this book, and believe we need many more books like it in the world.

Doctors tend to give black & white "do this don't do this" instructions in all areas of life, often with very little evidence, or because they're simply repeating 15+ year-old wisdom. It's very difficult for them to stay on top of modern research in general, but the real problem is that THEY ARE NOT TRAINED TO READ MEDICAL RESEARCH. They don't have the math or statistics backgrounds to be able to dissect a study and actually understand what it's saying, so tend to be overly conservative if there's a way to read causality from a study.

In pregnancy especially there are a billion rules that an OB will tell her patient, and often the rules from one OB to another are contradictory. For example I have a pregnant friend whose OB just told her NOT TO FLY in the first trimester. That instruction has never been given to any other pregnant friend. It's as if each of them make up their own rules, and then don't tell you the evidence as to WHY.

Oster, an economist, took the time to go through hundreds and hundreds of studies on pregnancy and distill actual risk/reward. For example: want one glass of wine? Totally fine. Don't drink 5. Want to each shellfish? Totally fine IF you've previously been exposed to toxoplasmosis, which can be tested for. 1 pound under the recommended weight gain? Not a huge concern, but you should try to eat more. Love coffee? No problem; drink a bunch.

Anyway, I loved the book. I really hope she continues this type of public healthcare research distillation for the layman going forward....more

This book is just awesome. Through personal anecdotes and real-world stories, Atul Gawande paints a broad, complicated, and interesting picture of heaThis book is just awesome. Through personal anecdotes and real-world stories, Atul Gawande paints a broad, complicated, and interesting picture of healthcare in America. He does an excellent job describing its imperfections and its challenges, and attempts to give ways to make it Better.

The book's major theme, which isn't clear early on, is basically Positive Deviants. The idea there is that healthcare, like anything else in life, varies in quality. Most practitioners are just average, some are terrible, and some are extraordinary.

Throughout the book he raises more questions than he answers, and I found that to be very important. I've though a lot about it since finishing it, and have discussed it with my doctor buddies. It's an eminently debatable book, perfect for book clubs....more

This is Joe's personal account of his experience treating patients in Haiti. The book is very readable, though the writing is somewhat raw (it reads jThis is Joe's personal account of his experience treating patients in Haiti. The book is very readable, though the writing is somewhat raw (it reads just like he speaks in person), which I think somehow adds to its authenticity. It is both tragic and hopeful at the same time.

There are not enough compelling first person accounts of what the real effect of aid and medical care is to third world countries. Joe's account of Haiti is an extremely rare, important, boots-on-the-ground account of the real world, and should be read by any policy maker or nonprofit looking to "help" a third world country....more